Budapest Things to Do Tips by Djinn76

You could think that paying 3500Ft (about 14€) to visit a cellar is slightly too expensive... It depends on what you can do in the cellar!!
In fact, you can see a lot of bottles of wine from the different wine areas of Hungary, panels (in German, English and French) explain what are the main characterisitc of each region. It starts to become interesting when you know that for each region, you also have a few open bottles and that you can use them to (re)fill the glass you get at the intrance...
At the end, you have the possibility to taste 55 different kind of wine!!
Be careful and don't pour full glass but just a sip of each wine otherwise you want be able to finish the visit ;-)

My personnal list is as follow:
Szöke - Matraacjai - chardonnay
Szekszardi - vinarium - cabernet franc
Mohácsi - Vaskapu - Kasteli
Villányi - wunderlich - Alajos - Monarchia
Villányi - Le Sommelier - Cabernet Sauvignon (***)
Egri - PPP KFTT - Monarchia - Leánika-Zengö
Hajosi - Cabernet Sauvignon

Last thing to mention, this is not open in the morning: from noon till 8pm...
Ah, and I almost forgot it : this is of course a fresh place, it can be a huge incentive during one of these hot summerdays...

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Address: Szentháromság tér 6
Directions: In front of the ugly Hilton hotel, close to St Matthias Church

Or indeed Szechenyi Lanchid as it is called in Hungarian. This is indeed the first permanent bridge over the Danube...

You can't miss it, this is one of the most popular spot of Budapest...
Try to walk through it during a WE: during summertime the bridge is then forbidden to car traffic.

I've recently seen this bridge featured in a stupid US action movie, an invisible plane was hidden at the top of one of the pillars. Anyone know what I'm talking about ?
OK, I now remember: "I Spy" with Eddie Murphy, a terrific movie!!

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Also know as Szabadsag hid in hungarian, this bridge was initially called Franz Joseph Bridge (Emperor of Austria and King of Hungary untill 1916).

It has been open in 1896 during the Millenium celebrations (to commemorate the 1000th anniversary of the arrival of the Magyars in the area).

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Named after the queen killed in 1898 This is indeed called Erzebet Hid in Hungarian.
The original bridge had been built at the end of the 19th century and untill 1926, it was then the Europe's largest single-arched bridge.
Blown up during WW2, another bridge has been open in 1964.

On the Buda side, you'll find two wonderful open-air places to go out during the night: the Rudas Romket and the Rakert.

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Directions: Erszebet bridge

Based on the London one, this is also one of the major sight of the city.

It is possible to visit it but only at some particular time of the day...

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Address: Kossut Lajos tér (square)

One more of the classical sights from the city (a slightly less usual one on this picture ;-)

This is situated on the southern part of Castle Hill and houses now several museum :
- Hungarian National Gallery
- National Széchényi Library
- Museum of Contemporary Art
- Budapest History Museum

Ah, and just in case Hungary is not a kingdom anymore, no king available to live there. Its golden age was probably around the 15th century with the king Mathias...

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Directions: Buda side

If you are too lazy or simply can not climb the tens of steps leading to Castle Hill, a nice alternative is this antic funicular...

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Directions: Next to the bridge at Clark Adam Square

This has never had any military purpose but this is one the best place to look the city. This is also one of the more touristic place of Budapest... Better, there is a terrace (Dom café) from where you can rest or write your postcard while enjoying the beautiful sight....

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Address: Castle District (Varhegy) in Buda
Directions: It can be reached by the Castle bus (Varbuz) from Moszkva ter.

This church from the 13th century took its name following the (two!) weddings of king Mathias (in fact Mátyás Templom).
Just nearby Fishermen's Bastion, this is a part of the most touristic area of Budapest.
At least try to enter inside (small fee but sometime long queue) to see the Hungarian Crown... There is a couple of panels trying to explain scientifically why its cross is bent but I've my own idea on the subject ;-))

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Address: I. Szentháromság tér 2, Varbusz. e

Quite deceiving, this is in fact the remaining of a world exhibition organized in 1896. This is exactly the same idea as the Eifel tower in Paris, the Atomium in Brussels or the Palace of fine arts in SF.
This is just a "Disney" castle : different copies of existing building in the area have been put together.
Originally, it was supposed to be only a temporary building (built in wood) but since then it has been rebuilt with real briccks and stones...
If you are in the mood, you can also find in the area
- the city park (the other alternative for green space would be Margaret Island)
- the zoo
- Gundel, one of the most famous (and expensive?) restaurant in Budapest
- The Sz?chenyi baths
Children may like the place but I was about to classify it under tourist trap...

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Phone: (+36) 1/343-3198
Address: 1146 Budapest, XIV. kerület, Városliget
Directions: Central park, near Hősők teré